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Audiences
large and small, across the country have been
captivated and motivated by this “naturally gifted”
public speaker, award-winning television and radio
broadcaster, and Hall of Fame athlete. Vera is
most notably known for her extensive background
in broadcasting serving as a National Collegiate
Athletic Association and WNBA Basketball Color
Analyst and Reporter. She has been an on-air personality
at several radio stations from New York to Florida
earning the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association
"Personality of the Year" in 1994. Over
recent years, she has groomed her training, mentoring
and leadership skills in the arena of collegiate
coaching. She currently spends the NCAA Women’s
Basketball season broadcasting for the Big Ten
Network.
A 2002 inductee into the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame, Vera was also recognized as the 1988 Big East Women's Basketball conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Syracuse University’s renowned Newhouse School of Public Communications. In addition to 20 years of fulfillment as a broadcasting and media professional, her diverse background has invited her to wear many other exciting hats: coach, teacher, academic advisor, trainer, sales and promotions manager, program director, writer, real estate agent, actress, and stand-up comedienne….As a communicator, she’s truly been there, done that! Vera’s “first big speech” came when she was asked to deliver the commencement address in front of an audience of over 2,000 at her high school graduation. Over two decades and hundreds of public speeches later, her “gift of gab” is still in demand.
Vera’s penchant for empowering and entertaining has been cultivated by employment and training opportunities by prominent corporate, media and academic industry leaders. They include Procter & Gamble, Pulte Homes, ESPN, Fox Sports, Madison Square Garden, NBA/WNBA, NCAA, Syracuse University, Indiana University, the University of Dayton, and the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company. Using a unique and interactive blend of wit and wisdom, Vera has parlayed her wealth of personal and professional experiences, into a motivational public speaking and communications training career. Thus, not only are people gratifyingly discovering why Vera’s VoiceWorks, but how confidently and effectively theirs can work too!
Director of Operations and Events
 Jan thrives on the details of planning and organizing. She has recently partnered with Vera Jones in managing, marketing and planning Play Through the Foul™ Team Building and Communication Training. A Magna Cum Laude undergraduate of St. Augustine College with a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University, she has proven to be the behind-the-scenes “brain” and coordinator of numerous big events over the past decade, planning conventions, clinics, basketball tournaments, corporate meetings, 5K runs, and awards banquets. In 2008, Jan played a key role in launching one of the historically most significant initiatives for the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association serving as the Manager of New Initiatives for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Foundation, and assisting in managing efforts for their Think Pink campaign. The initiative raised over one million dollars for cancer research with over 1,100 colleges and universities participating in the campaign efforts.
A former women’s basketball player, Jan’s love of sport led her to college athletics positions working as an Assistant Coach for California State University, Northridge. Prior to that, she was the Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Nevada Las Vegas where she also served as a Chairperson for the Minority Opportunity Committee for Athletics. It is her passionate understanding of the team concept, customer-driven focus, organization and technical efficiency that make Jan’s planning efforts incomparable and her partnership invaluable..
Play Through the Foul™ Team Building and Communication Training is a Service of Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC….www.verasvoiceworks.com |
